Nanocrystalline WC-Co Cutting Tools
D. Sivaprahasam and S. B. Chandrasekhar
Ultrafine/nanocrystalline WC-Co cutting tools are being developed using microwave and spark plasma sintering processes. Hardness substantially higher than commercial tools of similar grade was achieved. Cutting performance of these tools is under investigation on various materials.
Bulk Nanocrystalline Fe and Fe-Cu alloys
D. Sivaprahasham and G. Sundararajan
Fabrication of bulk nanostructured Fe and Fe alloys (Fe-Cu, Fe-Co) by particulate material route using passivated nano powders is being investigated. The various underlying issues in the sintering and H2 reduction of the above nano powders are also being investigated. Nano Fe and Fe-Cu (super saturated) alloy powders are being synthesized by levitational gas condensation (LGC) technique and subsequently consolidated by conventional compaction and solid state sintering as well as by rapid sintering process like spark plasma sintering (SPS). A sintered product similar to conventional PM components has been developed from Fe-Cu alloy.
TEM images of samples fabricated from nano Fe powder (Left) and nano Fe-Cu powder (right) sintered under identical conditions at 700°C
Nanosilver-candle filter technology has been successfully transferred to a company and the product is in the market with the brand name of PURITECH.
